Restart Your Roots: A Modern Solution for Hair Loss with Fotona

Photo source: Canva

Hair loss is more than just a cosmetic concern—it’s personal. Whether it starts with a widening part, a receding hairline, or thinning at the crown, hair loss can quietly chip away at your confidence. And if you're reading this, chances are you've tried shampoos, serums, maybe even supplements, but haven’t seen the results you hoped for.

Enter Fotona HairRestart®—a non-invasive laser treatment designed to wake up your scalp and restart natural hair growth. At Dream Clinic, we’re excited to offer this cutting-edge solution that’s backed by research, technology, and real results.

The Science Behind HairRestart

Fotona HairRestart uses a specialized Er:YAG laser in a unique mode called Fotona SMOOTH®. This isn’t a laser that burns or cuts—instead, it delivers gentle, controlled thermal pulses to the scalp, creating heat in the upper layers of the skin without damaging the surface.

This thermal stimulation:

• Activates dormant hair follicles

• Increases blood flow which is essential for delivering oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles.

• Induces inflammation stimulates fibroblasts, stem cells, and growth factors that promote hair follicle regeneration.

  
  

Unlike ablative lasers or microneedling, HairRestart is non-invasive, with no bleeding or surface trauma, making it highly tolerable and suitable for all skin types. Think of it like a wake-up call to your scalp—telling it, "Hey, it's time to grow!"

What Does the Research Say?

You might be wondering—does it really work?

1. Density and Diameter Improvement

A prospective study published in the Journal of the Laser and Health Academy found:

• A significant increase in hair density (average of 25–35%) over 4–6 sessions

• Increased hair shaft diameter in both male and female androgenetic alopecia patients

• No side effects or complications reported

2. High Patient Satisfaction

Surveys report:

• 80–90% of patients reported visible improvement in hair thickness or coverage

• Most patients noticed changes within 2–3 months, with peak effect at 4–6 months

Are You An Ideal Candidate?

Fotona HairRestart is most effective when hair follicles are still viable (i.e., non-scarring alopecia). Ideal candidates include:

1. Androgenetic alopecia

• Early to moderate stage (Norwood I–IV or Ludwig I–II)

• Both men and women

  
  

2. Telogen effluvium

• Chronic or postpartum-related hair shedding

  
  

3. Age-related thinning

• Individuals with progressive reduction in density due to age

  
  

4. Adjunct to other therapies

• Those receiving PRP, polynucleotides, oral finasteride/minoxidil, or topical treatments, where HairRestart acts as a synergistic enhancer

  
  

HairRestart is not suitable for:

1. Cicatricial (scarring) alopecia

2. Active scalp infections

3. End-stage baldness with complete follicular loss

Norword Scale

The Ludwig Scale

Treatment Protocol

Each session typically lasts 20–30 minutes and is comfortable enough to be performed without anesthesia. Patients usually require:

• 6-8 sessions, spaced 2–4 weeks apart

• Maintenance sessions every 3–6 months depending on age, hormone status, and treatment goals

  
  

At Dream Clinic, HairRestart is often combined with regenerative injectables like polynucleotides or exosomes to maximize follicle stimulation.

HairRestart vs. Other Modalities

Treatment	Invasiveness	Pain	Downtime	Drug Use	Mechanism	Best For
HairRestart	None	Minimal	None	No	Laser-induce bioactivation	Early-stage maintenance
PRF	Mild	Moderate	1-2 days`	No	Growth factor injection	Mid-stage AGA1 ; TE2
Finasteride	None	None	None	Yes	5a-reductase inhibition	Male AGA
Minoxidil	None	None	None	Yes	Vasodilation	Maintenance
Hair Transplant	High	High	1-2 weeks	No	Follicular unit relocation	End-stage baldness

1:AGA : Androgenetic Alopecia  2:TE : Telogen Effluvium

Role of Regenerative Support: Exosomes

Exosomes are nanoscale messengers secreted by stem cells that carry growth factors, mRNA, and microRNA to modulate healing and cell renewal. In hair loss treatment, they:

• Reactivate dermal papilla cells

• Suppress inflammation in the scalp microenvironment

• Stimulate angiogenesis and collagen matrix remodeling

• Encourage new hair follicle cycling

Unlike PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin), exosomes deliver a higher concentration of regenerative signals in a cell-free, purified form—making it safer and more predictable.

Dr Eunice Khor

Let’s Talk About Your Hair Health

Hair loss isn’t just a cosmetic issue—it’s an emotional one. As an aesthetic doctor, I understand how deeply it can affect your confidence. Book a personalized consultation with me, Dr. Eunice at Dream Clinic, to evaluate your condition, explore your hair goals, and create a customized, evidence-based treatment plan using Fotona HairRestart and other regenerative tools.

Gentle reminder:

You can find more details about Male Pattern Hair Loss and Female Pattern Hair Loss in the previous articles I shared.

1. https://www.dreamclinic.my/post/from-mane-to-dome-male-pattern-hair-loss-demystified

2. https://www.dreamclinic.my/post/falling-strands-a-distressing-loss-in-women

FIGURE 1: Representative before and after photographs of two patients.

(A) Patient 1, treated with 4 sessions of Fotona HairRestart combined with Hair Exosome. Hair quality was assessed as better by blind evaluation after treatment;

(B) Patient 2, treated with 2 sessions of  Fotona HairRestart monotherapy. AGA stage improved from grade 2-1 to 1-4 (Ludwig scale), and hair quality was assessed as better by blind evaluation after treatment.

Reference:

1. Day, D., McCarthy, M., & Talaber, I. (2021). Non‐ablative Er:YAG laser is an effective tool in the treatment arsenal of androgenetic alopecia. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 21(5), 2056–2063. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.14370

2. McCarthy, M., Day, D., & Talaber, I. (2021). Hair regrowth and maintenance in alopecia universalis patient treated with nonablative Er:YAG laser. Clinical Case Reports, 9(11). https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.4948